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This fall, the City of Tallahassee had the honor of hosting two international Fellows as part of the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) Professional Fellows Program. The participants – Edmund Chai Ming Lau from Malaysia and Imam Fitrianto from Indonesia – work as environmental professionals in their home countries. During their time here, Lau and Fitrianto experienced firsthand why Tallahassee is a municipal leader in the field of sustainability.

“We were honored to be selected as a host by ICMA. Participating in this program allows two communities to grow,” said Cynthia Barber, director of the City’s Environmental Policy and Energy Resources Department. “By sharing how our sustainability programs improve quality of life here, we positively impact a community half a world away. Likewise, the knowledge the Fellows bring helps foster new ideas that can lead to positive changes.”

The visit to Tallahassee was coordinated by the City’s Department of Environmental Policy and Energy Resources (EPER). With the assistance of many community partners, Lau and Fitrianto saw a diverse cross-section of Tallahassee’s environmental industry and learned about programs aimed at climate change, sustainable energy and environmental justice.

The visiting Fellows assisted in the City Hall herb garden with Angie Whitaker.(Photo: Special to the Chronicle)

“We have learned much that we can take back with us to enhance sustainability in our countries,” Lau said.

The Florida State University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s (OLLI) Friendship Force International Club (FFI) assisted in hosting Lau and Fitrianto by providing a personal touch to the visit through group dinners and cultural outings. The Fellows went to iconic Tallahassee locations such as the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Mission San Luis and the coast.

“We are very impressed by the work being done here in Tallahassee and cultural experiences we have had,” Fitrianto said.

The City seeks to find sustainable practices in all fields, including power production, which the Fellows learned about during a tour of one of the City’s power generating facilities.(Photo: Special to the Chronicle)

Following their time in Tallahassee, Lau and Fitrianto headed to Washington, D.C., where they took part in the Professional Fellows Congress, sharing their experiences and knowledge with other international Fellows.

This is the third time the City has hosted fellows through the Professional Fellows Program. The program brings young leaders in fields such as environmental sustainability, legislative process and governance, civic engagement, NGO management and journalism from around the world to the United States for intensive fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise. The exchange program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and is administrated by ICMA.

To learn more about the City’s sustainability efforts, please visit Talgov.com.